City employee charged with providing phone to inmate

A former city employee was charged Thursday with allegedly providing a cell phone to an inmate assigned to work with the parks and recreation department.

Tony Roberts, 52, of Garysburg, was charged by Investigator O.L. Wiltsie following an investigation which began last Monday, Roanoke Rapids police Chief Check Hasty said in a statement.

Roberts, who with worked with parks and recreation, is no longer employed with the city.

He received a $2,000 bond and November 1 court date where he will answer to the charge of providing or furnishing a mobile device to an inmate.

Hasty said the charge stems from an investigation Wiltsie began last Monday when a correctional officer was doing a search of inmates returning from work assignments and found one of them in possession of a cell phone.

The investigation is ongoing.

Captain B.L. Martin and North Carolina Department of Public Safety staff assisted with the investigation.